Warnings that generative artificial intelligence could undermine democratic institutions were delivered to lawmakers by a leading academic at Trinity College Dublin and the ADAPT Centre.
Dr Abeba Birhane, director of Trinity’s AI Accountability Lab and a researcher at the ADAPT Centre, told an Oireachtas committee that generative AI tools represent a “major threat” to truth, democratic processes and public trust. She described such systems as producing convincing content “without any regard for truth or accuracy,” warning they risk eroding the foundations of democratic life.
Birhane cited a deepfake video falsely showing then presidential candidate Catherine Connolly withdrawing from an election. The video attracted tens of thousands of views on Facebook before being removed by Meta, highlighting the risks posed by rapidly spreading misinformation.
She also warned that major technology firms, including OpenAI and other digital platforms, now operate at infrastructural scale in Ireland while lacking sufficient democratic oversight.
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